Xie Yujin and Li Xiaoting: The Generative Mechanism, Scientific System, and Practical Requirements of Xi Jinping's Important Expositions on Comprehensive Cyber Governance
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made significant deployments regarding the "improvement of the comprehensive cyber governance system," emphasizing the need to "deepen the reform of the network management system, integrate functions of online content construction and management," and "strengthen the rule of law in cyberspace and improve long-term mechanisms for governing the network ecosystem" [1]. This important discourse clarifies the overall goals, focal points, and specific tasks of comprehensive cyber governance, elucidating its role in advancing the modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity. Since the start of the New Era, based on a scientific analysis of the current state and developmental trends of network governance, Xi Jinping has formulated an important discourse on comprehensive cyber governance in the New Era, which serves as the fundamental compliance for continuously advancing China’s network governance toward greater depth. Consequently, analyzing the generative mechanism of Xi Jinping’s important discourse on comprehensive cyber governance, grasping its scientific system, and clarifying its practical requirements holds significant theoretical and practical importance for accelerating the improvement of the comprehensive cyber governance system and fostering a favorable network ecosystem.
I. The Generative Mechanism of Xi Jinping’s Important Discourse on Comprehensive Cyber Governance
Xi Jinping’s important discourse on comprehensive cyber governance represents a dialectical unity of history and reality, theory and practice. It is an inevitable theoretical outcome rooted in the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, drawing from China's concepts of comprehensive social governance and its experience in network governance since connecting to the Internet. It objectively summarizes the practical achievements of China’s network governance in the New Era and scientifically responds to the realistic demands of China’s future network governance, presenting a clear logic of generation.
(1) The Deepening and Expansion of China’s Concept of Comprehensive Social Governance
The conceptual connotation of "comprehensive cyber governance" (网络综合治理) can find its theoretical lineage in the concept of "comprehensive governance" (综合治理). "Comprehensive governance" originated in the field of social public security, dating back to the early 1960s with the "Fengqiao Experience" [1] endorsed by Mao Zedong—a practice characterized by mobilizing and relying on the masses to solve social contradictions locally. During the early period of Reform and Opening-up, the focus of national work shifted to economic construction, but issues of social governance and crime became prominent. Consequently, the "Fengqiao Experience" once again played a vital role in managing social problems, resolving mass contradictions, and settling disputes on the spot. In June 1981, the CPC Central Committee formally proposed the policy of "comprehensive governance" for social public security, providing specific regulations on the scope and principles of implementing "comprehensive governance of social public security" [2]. Subsequently, the discourse of "comprehensive governance of social public security" began to take shape. In March 1991, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed the Decision on Strengthening the Comprehensive Governance of Social Public Security, marking the recognition and promotion of comprehensive governance at the legal level. Xi Jinping has pointed out: "We must strengthen and innovate primary-level social governance, and persist in and improve the ‘Fengqiao Experience’ in the New Era" [3]. As the concept of "comprehensive governance" continued to deepen, it expanded from the initial social sphere to various aspects of state governance, forming a methodological system of "comprehensive governance." In essence, comprehensive governance is a new type of governance concept relative to traditional totalistic governance; its characteristics lie in the diversification of governance subjects, the variety of means, and the networked structure, initially demonstrating a trend toward collaborative governance. The deepening and expansion of this concept provided the cognitive foundation for the generation of Xi Jinping’s important discourse on comprehensive cyber governance.
(2) The Profound Accumulation of Experience in China’s Post-Access Network Governance
In 1994, China achieved full-function access to the Internet, and during the same period, China’s network governance gradually began to take off. The Interim Provisions of the People's Republic of China on the Management of International Connections of Computer Information Networks pointed out the "principles of overall planning, unified standards, hierarchical management, and promotion of development for international connections" [4], emphasizing the need to perform well in network information security management to ensure the provision of good and secure services for users. Jiang Zemin emphasized that regarding the issue of information networking, our basic policy is to "actively develop, strengthen management, seek advantages while avoiding disadvantages, and put it to our use, striving to occupy a proactive position in the global development of information networking" [5]. Subsequently, the Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services and the Decision on Maintaining Internet Security were promulgated, further driving the development of China’s network governance. Entering the 21st century, China’s internet enterprise gradually moved into the world's leading ranks. The Party and the state emphasized the need to build, use, and manage the internet effectively, implementing the requirement of "attending to both development and management" [6] across all aspects of internet growth. Hu Jintao proposed a new policy for internet development and management: "active utilization, scientific development, management according to law, and ensuring security" [7], requiring the formation of an "internet comprehensive management pattern characterized by the unified leadership of the Party committee, strict management by the government, operation of enterprises according to law, strengthening of industry self-discipline, and joint supervision by the whole society" [8]. At this time, China’s network governance was still in an exploratory stage, with a focus on "management" rather than "governance," and there was a degree of lag in handling problems and responding to crises. However, the internet development and management experience of this period provided the accumulation of experience for the generation of Xi Jinping’s important discourse on comprehensive cyber governance.
(3) The Intellectual Integration of China’s Network Governance Achievements in the New Era
Entering the New Era, Xi Jinping has attached great importance to internet development and governance, emphasizing: "If we cannot pass the test of the internet, we cannot pass the test of long-term governance" [9], and "Whoever masters the internet holds the initiative of the era" [10]. The Party and the state have made overall deployments for advancing network governance, forming an integrated pattern of mutual promotion at core levels such as online content construction, internet legislation, network security, and informatization. The Outline of the National Informatization Development Strategy pointed out the need to "establish a network governance system that combines legal norms, administrative supervision, industry self-discipline, technical support, public supervision, and social education" [11], marking China's gradual transition from "network management" to "network governance." Based on this, Xi Jinping creatively proposed the important proposition of "comprehensive cyber governance," stating the need to "establish a comprehensive cyber governance system and foster a clean and bright cyberspace" [12]. Subsequently, Xi Jinping has delivered many important speeches and set clear requirements on "comprehensive cyber governance," constructing the "four beams and eight pillars" [2] of comprehensive cyber governance. The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC proposed to "improve the comprehensive cyber governance system and promote the formation of a good network ecosystem" [13], pointing out the key tasks for the next stage of comprehensive cyber governance. In July 2023, Xi Jinping gave important instructions on network security and informatization work, putting forward the significant conclusion that "the comprehensive cyber governance system has basically been established, and the network security assurance system and capability have been continuously enhanced" [14], marking the comprehensive transition of China's comprehensive cyber governance system from "establishment" to "improvement." These governance achievements are the vivid practice of Xi Jinping’s important discourse on comprehensive cyber governance.
(4) A Proactive Response to Future Demands of China’s Network Governance
As of December 2024, the number of internet users in China reached 1.108 billion, with an internet penetration rate of 78.6% [15]. Cyberspace has become a new space for people's production and life, and naturally, a new domain for state governance. With its openness, equality, and inclusiveness, cyberspace meets the increasingly diverse and pluralistic material and spiritual-cultural needs of the masses; however, due to its anonymity, virtuality, and fluidity, it also fosters the growth and spread of chaos such as online rumors and internet fraud. In recent years, China’s comprehensive cyber governance has achieved remarkable results, and the overall network ecosystem has improved. However, online irregularities persist, and network problems continue to emerge in new forms and communication modes, disrupting the good order of cyberspace. "Cyberspace is the common spiritual home of hundreds of millions of people" [16]. Facing this complex situation, Xi Jinping has gained deep insight into the urgency and difficulty of China’s future network governance, emphasizing the need to "foster a clean and bright cyberspace" [17], develop a positive and upward network culture, and provide fair and inclusive network information services to better meet the new needs and expectations of the masses for cyberspace. In the future, China’s network governance will take on more diversified, refined, and intelligent characteristics. On one hand, as technology continues to update, network problems will appear in more hidden and complex forms, placing higher demands on the capabilities of precise identification, rapid response, and efficient disposal in network governance. On the other hand, the masses' demands for cyberspace will also undergo an evolutionary leap, manifesting more diverse and high-end features. In view of this, Xi Jinping’s important discourse on comprehensive cyber governance provides directional guidance for future network governance work.
II. The Scientific System of Xi Jinping’s Important Discourse on Comprehensive Cyber Governance
Based on the new era orientation and developmental requirements, Xi Jinping has carried out global, systematic, and forward-looking discourses centered on the governance philosophy, structure, content, and means of comprehensive cyber governance, forming a logically rigorous and systematically complete theoretical system.
(1) Adhering to "Benefiting the People" as the Governance Philosophy
The philosophy of comprehensive cyber governance answers the questions of "for whom" and "on whom to rely." Xi Jinping's answer is: "to promote informatization to better benefit society and the people" [18]. Therefore, it is necessary to coordinate multiple dimensions such as development and security, and freedom and order; this is a specific manifestation of the "People-Centered" development philosophy in the field of cybersecurity and informatization (网信).
First, adhering to the fundamental purpose of being "People-Centered." Xi Jinping’s important discourse on comprehensive cyber governance emphasizes that the cause of cybersecurity and informatization relies on the people and benefits the people, highlighting its "People-Centered" theoretical character. On one hand, the process of comprehensive cyber governance must rely on the people. To this end, Xi Jinping pointed out that "we must follow the online mass line well" [19], making the internet a new channel for "responding to the concerns of the masses and accepting the supervision of the people" [20]. In 2023 alone, network reporting departments at all levels nationwide handled 206 million reports from netizens. Among these, the reporting center of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) handled 6.693 million reports, local reporting departments handled 8.918 million, and major national website platforms handled 190 million, truly exerting the role of mass supervision and effectively improving the order of cyberspace [21]. On the other hand, the achievements of comprehensive cyber governance are shared by the people. The Party and the state have repeatedly emphasized the need to "allow hundreds of millions of people to have a greater sense of gain in sharing the fruits of internet development" [22], making the masses the greatest beneficiaries of comprehensive cyber governance. In recent years, the CAC has persisted in the goal of a "clean and bright cyberspace" (清朗网络空间), starting from the fundamental interests of the people, concentrated on rectifying prominent problems and chaos online, and comprehensively covering key areas and crucial links of the web. It has promoted the continuous improvement of the network ecosystem, practicing the "benefiting the people" governance philosophy through practical action.
Second, adhering to the coordination of development and security. From a dialectical perspective, Xi Jinping proposed the coordinating thought that "security and development must be promoted simultaneously" [23], forming an overall pattern of "ensuring development through security and promoting security through development" [24]. On one hand, network security is the bottom line of comprehensive cyber governance. Xi Jinping attaches great importance to network security issues, putting forward important conclusions such as "network security and informatization concern the Party's long-term governance" [25] and "without network security, there is no national security" [26], elevating it to the strategic height of national security and holistic security. To this end, it is necessary to "adhere to a correct view of network security and bolster the national network security barrier" [27], advancing network security and informatization development as a whole, and improving the national cyberspace security assurance system. On the other hand, network development is the driving force of comprehensive cyber governance. "In today's world, informatization is developing very fast; if you do not advance, you retreat, and if you move slowly, you also retreat" [28]. Frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain are already widely embedded in the field of network security; if we do not master these frontier technologies, we will fall into a passive position. Currently, China's internet enterprise is flourishing, but issues like "bottlenecks in domestic internet development remain prominent" [29] and "the situation where core technologies are controlled by others has not yet changed" [30] still exist. Therefore, it is necessary to adhere to the "People-Centered" development philosophy and coordinate high-quality development with high-level security.
Third, insist on balancing freedom and order. Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Cyberspace, like physical society, requires both the advocacy of freedom and the observance of order." [13]66 On one hand, freedom is the purpose of order. Comprehensive cyberspace governance is not about "encircling, pursuing, intercepting, or blocking" within cyberspace; rather, it is about "fully respecting the rights of netizens to exchange ideas and express their will" [13]66, understanding the thoughts and concerns of the masses, and safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests. Advocating for freedom of speech online expands channels for political participation to a certain extent, broadly consolidates social consensus, and enriches forms of democratic oversight. The Party and the state should respect the rights and freedoms of the masses to report problems and express demands through the internet, manifesting a legal order of freedom within cyberspace. [19] On the other hand, order is the guarantee of freedom. Good order is the foundation of stable social development; defining and protecting the boundaries and rights of online freedom of speech is an intrinsic requirement for advancing comprehensive cyberspace governance. Attributes of cyberspace such as anonymity and immediacy allow netizens to experience an unprecedented degree of freedom, but this freedom must be premised on maintaining the cyber-ecosystem and safeguarding national security and social stability. Therefore, it is necessary to construct a refined legal regulatory system for online freedom of speech, using legislative means to rationally regulate and guide the expressions of netizens, ensuring that their freedoms are fully protected within the tracks of the rule of law.
(2) Insisting on "Comprehensive Synergy" as the Governance Structure
The structure of comprehensive cyberspace governance addresses the two major questions of "who are the subjects of governance" and "what is the relationship between these subjects." At the current stage, China has basically formed a comprehensive cyberspace governance structure characterized by "multi-subject participation, including leadership by Party committees, management by the government, fulfillment of responsibilities by enterprises, oversight by society, and self-discipline by netizens." [13]56-57
First, insist on the core principle of "centralized and unified leadership by Party committees." For a long time, Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the construction of a leadership system for comprehensive cyberspace governance, emphasizing that "we must clearly and unswervingly adhere to Party management of the internet, and strengthen the CPC Central Committee’s centralized and unified leadership over cybersecurity and informatization work." [13]10 Strengthening the Party's leadership is the fundamental guarantee for managing, using, and developing the internet well and effectively improving the capacity for comprehensive cyberspace governance. To implement the principle of "Party management of the internet," one must permeate the entire governance process with Party leadership, giving play to the Party's functions in top-level design, political guidance, and organizational construction. Responsibilities must be clarified, and the responsibility system for comprehensive cyberspace governance work must be strictly implemented to promote the continuous deepening and materialization of the governance system. The Central Cybersecurity and Informatization Leading Group was responsible for the overall coordination of major issues in informatization and cybersecurity across political, economic, and cultural fields, making a series of major policy decisions and deployments. Subsequently, local Party committees at all levels established working groups to fully implement the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee. In March 2018, according to the Plan for Deepening Reform of Party and State Institutions issued by the CPC Central Committee, the "Central Cybersecurity and Informatization Leading Group" was renamed the "Central Cybersecurity and Informatization Commission" to better perform its "role in decision-making, coordination, and promotion—setting the tone, making the final call, and supervising the implementation regarding key, complex, and difficult issues." [13]10
Second, insist on the comprehensive path of "collaborative governance by multiple subjects." Under the centralized and unified leadership of Party committees, "internet platforms, social organizations, and the broad masses of netizens must play an active role in jointly promoting civilized platform operation, civilized internet usage, and civilized browsing, shaping and purifying cyberspace with the new trends of the era to jointly build a beautiful spiritual home online." [8]319 First, the government is the managing subject of comprehensive cyberspace governance. The government must "strengthen internet thinking and be adept at utilizing the advantages of the internet" [13]24, implement the decisions of the CPC Central Committee, focus on improving regulatory, service, and guarantee capabilities, and better play its leading role. It must achieve a transformation from "standalone management" to "overall coordination," emphasizing unity, cooperation, and complementary advantages to promote synergistic governance among multiple subjects. Second, enterprises are the responsible subjects of comprehensive cyberspace governance. Xi Jinping has emphasized: "The primary responsibility of internet enterprises must be clarified; the internet must never be allowed to become a platform for spreading harmful information or fabricating rumors to cause trouble." [13]57 Internet enterprises have a wide business scope covering information, social media, and technological innovation, penetrating every aspect of daily life. Leveraging their advantages in technology and talent, they must strengthen the governance of the online information ecosystem, reinforce content auditing, respond to sudden public opinion crises, ensure information security, and effectively maintain order in cyberspace. Third, society is the oversight subject of comprehensive cyberspace governance. By undertaking some public service functions of the government, social organizations compensate to a certain extent for the potential limitations of the government-led governance model. Therefore, relevant social organizations should be encouraged to establish and improve industry self-regulation mechanisms, promote the formation of industry credit evaluation systems, and integrate the forces of research institutes and non-governmental organizations to play their roles in technological R&D, organizational oversight, and publicity and education. Fourth, netizens are the self-disciplined subjects of comprehensive cyberspace governance. Comprehensive cyberspace governance is essentially the work of reaching the broad masses of netizens; it must follow the general laws of social governance, encouraging netizens to standardize their online speech and behavior, improve their media literacy, enhance their sense of cyber-moral responsibility, and consciously become participants in comprehensive cyberspace governance.
(3) Insisting on "Clean and Bright Cyberspace" as the Governance Content
The content of comprehensive cyberspace governance answers the core question of "what to govern," aiming to create a clean and bright cyberspace where data security is the baseline, content construction is the foundation, and public opinion governance is the priority.
First, insist on taking "data security" as the baseline. Data security concerns personal privacy, corporate secrets, and national interests; managing data security is the baseline of comprehensive cyberspace governance. "China possesses massive data resources, huge application demand, and profound market potential" [13]121; how to utilize big data well while ensuring its security is a key issue that comprehensive cyberspace governance must urgently resolve. On one hand, national data security must be ensured. Security risks such as the disorderly proliferation and illegal leakage of data have become increasingly prominent, posing severe challenges to cybersecurity and even national security. "Data security issues are quite prominent and must never be taken lightly" [13]100-101. Big data management must be strengthened according to the law to effectively safeguard national data security. The Data Security Law focuses on prominent issues in the field of data security, emphasizing the implementation of data classification and hierarchical management strategies, and constructing a comprehensive basic institutional framework including risk assessment, monitoring and early warning, and emergency response. On the other hand, the development and utilization of data must be promoted. Specifically, the open sharing of public data should be encouraged to improve the utilization efficiency of data resources and release the value of data as a factor of production. A unified national big data center should be built to promote the deep integration of technology, business, and data, achieving synergistic cooperation across levels, regions, systems, departments, and business lines to construct an integrated "Three Integrations and Five Across" [5] pattern.
Second, insist on "content construction" as the foundation. Xi Jinping has emphasized: "Strengthen the construction of online content, bolster positive online publicity, and cultivate a positive, healthy, and upward-striving online culture." [20] With the iterative updates of digital technology, the production, transmission, and consumption of online content have changed. Diverse and rich online content meets the spiritual and cultural needs of netizens, but information involving falsehoods, fraud, and attacks also presents huge challenges to content regulation. On one hand, online content regulation must adhere to the principle of "Party management of the internet," constructing scientific content review mechanisms, curbing the spread of harmful information, and gathering multiple subjects to synergistically promote content governance and create a sound cyber-ecosystem. The Provisions on the Governance of the Online Information Content Ecosystem clarify the relevant subjects and leurs responsibilities, listing illegal and harmful information and establishing a "negative list." [21] On the other hand, for content construction in cyberspace, the key is to "cultivate internal strength" and "win development advantages through content advantages." [13]69 Relevant mainstream media should take Socialist Core Values as their guide, occupy the main battlefield of online culture, and sound the "main melody" of online culture. Guided by mainstream culture, internet enterprises and platforms should create high-quality online cultural products, innovate the forms of cultural supply, expand the coverage and influence of high-quality content, and improve the quality of the spiritual and cultural lives of the masses.
Third, insist on "public opinion guidance" as the priority. The internet has become a distribution center for information transmission, the main front for public opinion publicity, and the primary battlefield for ideological struggle. Many problems in cyberspace often stem from improper control of negative public opinion and insufficient intensity of positive publicity. Therefore, "we must profoundly recognize the importance of public opinion guidance" [13]49 and "promote the integrated management of news publicity and online public opinion." [5] First, adhere to the correct orientation of public opinion. "If the orientation of public opinion is correct, it can unite the people, gather strength, and promote the development of our cause." [13]74 Relevant departments and mainstream media must assume primary responsibility, achieve full coverage in online public opinion governance, and improve working mechanisms. They should provide active guidance and scientific measures for various public opinion subjects and communication platforms to jointly build a healthy online public opinion ecosystem. They must also improve the ability to respond to sudden online public opinion incidents, establishing and improving monitoring, early warning, guidance, and regulation systems to compress the space for the spread of harmful public opinion. Second, win the battle for online public opinion. "The more some people try to suppress the voice of positive public opinion, the more we must speak out." [13]49 Based on a profound grasp of the laws of internet information transmission, we must quickly master the internet as the main battlefield of public opinion struggle, "carrying out the struggle for public opinion in a reasonable, advantageous, and restrained manner" [13]50, increasing the intensity of positive publicity, and resolutely safeguarding online political security and ideological security.
(4) Insisting on "Multi-Pronged Measures" as Governance Means
As digital technology undergoes innovative iterations, cyberspace threats also exhibit characteristics such as dynamism and latency. Therefore, we must insist on combining the rule of law, technological management, and moral construction to respond to increasingly complex risks and challenges in cyberspace.
First, strengthen the rule of law in cyberspace. Xi Jinping has pointed out that "cyberspace is not an 'extra-legal territory'" [22], and the role of law must be utilized to regulate group behavior, adjust interest relationships, and maintain good order within cyberspace. First, accelerate the process of cyber-legislation. As a new field of national governance, we must "lose no time in formulating legislative plans and perfecting laws and regulations such as those for internet information content management and the protection of critical information infrastructure" [23]198-199, ensuring the internet always operates healthily within the tracks of the rule of law. Entering the New Era, China has successively issued a series of laws and regulations in the internet field, such as the Cybersecurity Law and the Personal Information Protection Law, forming a comprehensive legal and regulatory system covering cybersecurity, data privacy, and other fields, comprehensively advancing the rule of law in cyberspace. Second, implement the responsibilities of relevant subjects. "Cyberspace is virtual, but the subjects utilizing cyberspace are real; everyone should obey the law and clarify the rights and obligations of all parties." [13]155 This important exposition stipulates the breadth of subjects required to abide by the law in comprehensive cyberspace governance. Among them, government departments must "manage the web according to the law," increasing enforcement and supervision in key areas; internet enterprises must "operate the web according to the law," insisting on the unification of economic and social benefits; and the broad masses of netizens must "use the web according to the law," improving their awareness of respecting and abiding by the law and consciously maintaining cyber-order.
Second, comprehensively improve the capacity for technological management of the internet. The iterative updates of technology place new requirements on internet governance; we must "comprehensively improve the capacity and level of technological management of the internet." [13]84 First, strengthen independent R&D of core technologies. To advance comprehensive cyberspace governance, we must achieve autonomous and controllable core technologies, changing the situation where core technologies are controlled by others. We must harmonize the relationship between the "decentralized" and "unregulated" technical characteristics of the internet and the "centralized" and "regulated" governance needs of cyberspace, tapping into the governance potential inherent in technology. We must pay attention to frontier technologies such as blockchain and generative AI, improving our ability to navigate internet technological development. We must build a high-level team of technical talents, allowing various talents to display their skills in core technology R&D and technological governance. Second, fortify the security baseline for technological application. Aiming at technical obstacles and barriers in the governance process, we must equally emphasize encouraging technological innovation and promoting "technology for good," continuously conducting research and reserves regarding frontier internet technological developments. We must improve the technical support system for comprehensive cyberspace governance, strengthen safety assessments for new internet technologies and applications, and fortify the security baseline for technological application. Only by adhering to the governance principle of "using technology to deal with technology, and using technology to manage technology" [13]95 and improving capacity and levels can we effectively prevent and defuse various security risks.
Third, effectively strengthen the construction of cyber-morality. While illegal and criminal acts in cyberspace must rely on legal means for severe punishment, immoral behavior online depends on cyber-moral education and cultivation. Xi Jinping has emphasized: "We must strengthen the construction of cyber-ethics and cyber-civilization, leverage the guiding role of moral education, and use the outstanding achievements of human civilization to nourish cyberspace and repair the political ecosystem of the network." [14]155 Therefore, it is necessary to construct a refined system of cyber-moral behavioral norms, thereby laying an ethical foundation and moral standard for the "soft governance" of cyberspace. Led by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the "Seven Bottom Lines" [6] were proposed for netizens to observe, accompanied by regulations such as the "Ten Provisions for WeChat," the "Ten Provisions for Accounts," and the "Ten Provisions for Investigative Interviews," effectively strengthening moral norms in cyberspace. Public welfare and mass-based cyber-morality activities have been carried out, such as the "Clear and Bright" [7] and "Clean the Web" special actions, the "Cybersecurity Awareness Week" series, and "Cyber China Festival" themed activities, to centrally rectify various types of illegal and harmful information online. Furthermore, relevant departments have promoted the application of "Internet Plus" in fields such as Party building, focusing on cybersecurity and media literacy education to enhance netizens' capacity for producing, disseminating, and discerning online information, and to cultivate a spirit of moral self-discipline among the broad masses of netizens.
III. Practical Requirements of Xi Jinping’s Important Expositions on Comprehensive Cyber Governance
Comprehensive cyber governance is a long-term task and a systemic project that requires a scientific grasp and effective application of corresponding governance strategies at the practical level. Therefore, it is necessary to improve top-level design, perfect supporting institutional mechanisms, enhance the efficacy of grassroots governance, and strengthen the synergy and integration of resources to promote new achievements in comprehensive cyber governance.
(1) Improve top-level design to promote the efficient operation of the comprehensive cyber governance system
Comprehensive cyber governance is a case where "pulling one hair moves the whole body" [8]; it is closely linked to national security, social stability, and the interests of the people. Therefore, we must strengthen top-level design, unify planning and layout, and promote the efficient operation of the comprehensive cyber governance system.
First, adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, and ensure overall deployment and strategic planning. Comprehensive cyber governance is a "major strategic issue concerning national security and national development, as well as the work and life of the broad masses of the people" [14]33. It requires following the inherent laws of cyber governance to advance steadily in stages and steps. To this end, the Party and the state must recognize the long-term and arduous nature of comprehensive cyber governance, strengthen medium-to-long-term strategic planning, accelerate the issuance of guiding documents, and clarify priority tasks and foundational projects for different stages. We must enhance policy research and analysis, timely introduce guiding policy measures to optimize the policy environment, maintain forward-looking thinking, scientifically foresee potential opportunities and challenges in the governance process, and pre-formulate response strategies.
Second, focus on key areas and formulate differentiated development strategies. For comprehensive cyber governance "to achieve tangible results, the key is to find the right path, construct good institutional mechanisms, grasp key points, solve difficult points, and master the pressure points" [16]396. Features and problems differ across fields, requiring the formulation of refined and differentiated governance strategies. This demands that during top-level design, we conduct in-depth analysis of the actual conditions in various fields and accurately identify the crux of problems to propose targeted and actionable governance measures. To this end, we must formulate governance plans and policies that conform to the realities of each field, forming governance strategies for cybersecurity maintenance, online content construction, and online public opinion guidance that are both independent and holistically coordinated. For example, to resolutely curb the high incidence of telecommunications and network fraud, relevant departments have concentrated forces on key deployments like the "Great Wall" and "Broken Stream" special actions.
(2) Perfect supporting institutional mechanisms to evade potential risks in the process of comprehensive cyber governance
"Cybersecurity and informatization work involves many fields; we must strengthen overall coordination, implement comprehensive governance, and form a powerful synergy" [14]45. To this end, we must accelerate the establishment of risk assessment and early warning mechanisms, improve inter-departmental coordination mechanisms, and sound the long-term mechanisms for cyber-ecosystem governance to continuously eliminate obstructive factors in the governance process.
First, establish risk assessment and early warning mechanisms. Xi Jinping pointed out: "To maintain cybersecurity, we must first know where the risks are, what kind of risks they are, and when they occur" [14]93. To this end, we must gain insight into the inherent logic and dynamic laws of online information dissemination, establish risk assessment and early warning mechanisms adapted to key areas, capture and resolve potential risks in cyberspace in a timely manner, and maintain the initiative in governance. Regarding key areas such as data privacy, algorithm application, and product development, relevant departments must strengthen specialized and key supervision, regulating the behavioral practices of network stakeholders such as network operating agencies, digital platforms, and technical organizations to avoid phenomena that endanger national security or harm the interests of the masses.
Second, improve inter-departmental coordination mechanisms. At the present stage, comprehensive cyber governance faces phenomena such as departmental silos, blurred powers and responsibilities, and conflicts of interest. Inter-departmental cooperation often appears temporary, local, and superficial, and a normalized coordination mechanism has not yet been fully formed, which to some extent weakens the overall efficacy of governance. To this end, we must clarify the core responsibilities and boundaries of authority for each department, refine responsibility and power lists, and achieve a "shift from one-way management to two-way interaction, from offline to online-offline integration, and from pure government supervision to a greater emphasis on social collaborative governance" [14]21. The government should promote resource integration and sharing among multiple departments—including propaganda, public security, cyberspace administration, and culture—to build a unified and efficient coordination mechanism. We must follow the principles of territorial management, hierarchical responsibility, and authorized specialization, guiding various regions to explore governance measures suited to their local characteristics to "blaze a new trail of shared management and positive interaction" [14]5.
Third, sound the long-term mechanisms for cyber-ecosystem governance. Given the current development trend of information technology, the role of cyberspace in shaping people's production and life will continue to intensify, and cyber governance will face more complex risks and challenges. Therefore, comprehensive cyber governance must transcend the limitations of short-term management and shift toward a strategic perspective of long-term planning and steady implementation. This requires that policy formation, legislation, and mechanism refinement, as well as law enforcement and judicial activities, be forward-looking. They must be based on scientific predictions of the future landscape of cyber-society, grounded in trends of technological development and laws of social change. At the same time, cyber governance methods must be sustainable, unifying the promotion of development with the assurance of security, and balancing immediate management with long-term benefit, to continuously optimize the cyber-ecosystem.
(3) Enhance the quality and efficacy of grassroots governance and give full play to the power of the masses in comprehensive cyber governance
Grassroots governance is the foundation of national governance and the foundational project for driving comprehensive cyber governance toward greater depth and solidity. To this end, we must improve the cyber governance capabilities of grassroots officials, strengthen the participation of the masses in cyber governance, and leverage the power of the people.
First, improve the cyber governance capabilities of grassroots officials. Xi Jinping pointed out: "Being adept at using the internet to understand public opinion and carry out work is a basic skill for leading officials to do their jobs well under the new situation" [14]4. Grassroots officials are on the front line of contact with the masses; they must "frequently go online to take a look, 'lurk' [9], chat, and voice their opinions" [14]4. To this end, we must forge a "vanguard team" for grassroots cyber governance and leverage their exemplary leading role through publicity and reporting. We must enhance the initiative of grassroots officials in learning digital technologies, provide relevant learning resources and platforms, improve their professional competence, and consolidate the internal foundation for a professionalized governance system. We must explore the establishment of a grid-based grassroots governance system for cybersecurity and informatization, accurately matching the needs of the masses with public service resources, and extending cyber-work to the most basic levels.
Second, strengthen the participation of the masses in cyber governance. The masses are the core force for implementing the foundational work of comprehensive cyber governance. Their cyber literacy and degree of participation directly relate to the actual effects of governance. Facing the current situation where the comprehensive cyber governance system is basically established but regional and group differences exist in the masses' awareness and acceptance, we must dispatch officials who possess both a solid theoretical foundation and proficiency in network technology to undergo tempering [10] in front-line cyber governance positions. We should organize experts and professional teams to carry out national public welfare science popularization activities to improve the literacy of the grassroots masses. Furthermore, we should strengthen the construction of practice education bases for netizens' cyber-civilization literacy, promote the extensive and deep development of cyber-civilization activities at the grassroots level, and actively explore the establishment of "micro-communities" for grassroots governance. This will break the hierarchical barriers of traditional governance, achieve the downward convergence of governance forces, and aggregate the governance wisdom of the grassroots masses.
(4) Strengthen resource synergy and integration to comprehensively pool the powerful forces of comprehensive cyber governance
To promote the formation and development of the overall landscape of comprehensive cyber governance, we must accelerate the integration and sharing of resources such as infrastructure, technology, and talent, promoting the ubiquitous connection, elastic supply, and efficient allocation of high-quality resources.
First, strengthen the construction of new infrastructure. New infrastructure is key to promoting the overall landscape of comprehensive cyber governance. We must "construct a planning and standards system for new infrastructure, improve mechanisms for its integrated utilization, promote the digital transformation of traditional infrastructure, broaden diversified investment and financing channels, and sound the coordination mechanisms for major infrastructure construction" [6]. Specifically, we must accelerate the optimization and upgrading of information communication networks, building an information highway with low latency, high bandwidth, and wide coverage to support the deep application of big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence in comprehensive cyber governance. We must promote the optimized layout of data centers and cloud computing platforms to achieve centralized storage, efficient processing, and intelligent analysis of massive data. At the same time, the elastic expansion and on-demand service characteristics of cloud computing platforms can achieve flexible scheduling and intelligent allocation of resources, driving comprehensive cyber governance toward intelligence and efficiency.
Second, increase efforts in core technology innovation. Xi Jinping emphasized: "To achieve breakthroughs in core technologies, we must take the road of independent innovation" [14]115. Therefore, we must focus on frontier technologies such as big data and generative artificial intelligence, using independent R&D as the cornerstone and open cooperation as the methodology to enhance China's competitiveness in core technology fields. Specifically, by building cooperation platforms for industry, academia, research, and application, we encourage innovation subjects such as research institutions, universities, and enterprises to cooperate deeply and jointly tackle technical difficulties in cyber governance. At the same time, we must establish and improve incentive mechanisms for technological innovation, perfect evaluation and transformation mechanisms for scientific and technological achievements, and increase efforts to protect, reward, and promote core technological achievements. Furthermore, we must strengthen exchange and cooperation with international advanced technologies, actively participate in the formulation of international standards and rules, and enhance China's international discourse power in cyberspace governance.
Third, perfect the cultivation system for governance talent. "Competition in cyberspace is, in the final analysis, a competition for talent" [14]37. To this end, we must construct an all-around, multi-level, and three-dimensional cyber talent cultivation system, and "study and formulate overall plans for talent development in the field of cybersecurity and informatization, and promote the reform of institutional mechanisms for talent development" [14]46. First, we must strengthen disciplinary construction in higher education and vocational education within the field of cyber governance, integrating the latest network technologies and governance concepts into teaching content to cultivate more composite talents with both theoretical literacy and practical ability. Second, we must establish and improve in-service training and continuing education mechanisms, providing pathways for continuous learning for existing cyber governance personnel. By organizing professional skills training and strengthening business capacity assessments, we can help them adapt to changes in technology and governance needs, while providing broad development space and good benefits to "build a powerful team that is politically strong, professionally proficient, and has a good work style" [14]35.